Identification please.

My next door neighbour has this in his garden and I have no idea wht it is called.It has grown to 7ft tall and about 5 ft round and is very ugly and woody.I need to know when I can lop off the branches without killing the plant.It has plenty of little shoots everywhere and is obvoiously thriving but it is quite an eyesore.I want to cut it back so that I can tidy it up for him but because I have no idea what it is when can I safely cut please.All advice gratefully received.Thanks All. http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t96/blueboy8_photo/562caa96.jpg

 

My eyesight is failing, so sorry cannot see what it is.

 

It looks like something that was in the ID section fairly recently, I think, and not what I thought it was!

 

Hi Krafty,cant see it very well but could be a verigated Weigela,does it have pink flowers?Is it deciduous?
IF it is you can hack it how and when you like
IF its not then back to the drawing board

 

No flowers and yes it is deciduous but I will attempt to upload another picture.

 

Could it be a varigated box elder?

 

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/854/55008242.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Home/Plants/Ornamental-Groups/Trees/Bro adleaves/Aceraceae/Acer/Acer-negundo/Acer-negundo-Variegatum/Acer-negundo-Variegatum-2.html&h=426&w=386&sz=27&hl=en&start=20&um=1&tbnid=EJpefJkcCjnc0M:&tbnh=126&tbnw=114&prev=/imag es%3Fq%3Dacer%2Bnegundo%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-US%26sa%3DN

 

Sorry, guys, that's not what I was thinking of. Perhaps I'll have some time tomorrow to look back.

 

Yes...it's Acer Negundo Varigation!!! Pete brilliant.Can I chop this down safely now or will I have to leave it?
Thanks Pete...and everyone else for your help and apologies for my naff photography..lol.

 

Thankyou wise old owl too,just spotted you reply above petes..lol.Geniuses all of you.Well done.

 

Never grown one Krafty so my guess is, wait until winter and prune back to a nice bush shape.
Try not to cut random bits off here and there during the growing season if you can.
An annual prune in winter could well be all it needs.

 

Thanks Pete,I will trim it back later when the weather changes..lol.Should be snowing next week!! :eek: